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Tool For Setting Caster On Model A Axle

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by chopsaw209, Nov 15, 2010.

  1. Hey guys,

    Thought I would share this little tool I made this weekend to help set my caster degree angle on my model A I Beam axle.

    So to start this off I installed my split bones, rod ends and tabs. Well with the tabs I had tacked to the bottom of my frame, and the rod ends in the tapered holes. It gave my axle (4" Drop Bell) an un acceptable caster angle. In fact it was a few degrees beyond zero in the wrong direction.

    I believe this was caused by two things.

    A) I had pie cut my frame in the front to avoid doing a Z in an effort to go for a more traditional look and lower the ride.
    B) My tabs are short and compact (they don't hang down very far) thus pulling my axle forward in order to get the ends in the tapered holes.

    So this gave me a weird caster angle on the axle and I decided to pie cut my split bones up front just behind the cast piece where you can see the factory weld. This gave me enough gap to push my axle back toward the cab until I got the desired angle I was aiming for and weld the pie cut back up solid.

    Since I don't have a 4 foot long crescent wrench to grab ahold of the i beam and crank on it I fabbed up this neat little tool that would do the job and not scar up my axle in the process. I simply slipped the tool on the axle from the bottom side, slid a piece of tubing for leverage over the long tab on top of the tool, and used a ratchet strap in conjunction with an angle finder to get and hold the proper degree while I welded the pie cut back up. Easy to do especially if you're working without an extra set of hands in the shop.

    This is my first tech thread, and I know it's not that exciting but I thought some of you might like this idea especially if you are in the process of setting your caster and nobody is around to help out.

    Thanks!

    Chop
     

    Attached Files:

    kevinwalshe likes this.
  2. 46Chief
    Joined: Jan 2, 2008
    Posts: 179

    46Chief
    Member

    No apoligies for the post. Excellent information that will come into use in the future. Thank you!
     
    ScottyNoBrakes likes this.
  3. lugnutz9032
    Joined: Nov 22, 2008
    Posts: 264

    lugnutz9032
    Member
    from Palatka,Fl

    Looks like good solid tech to me,thumbs up.
     
  4. Von Rigg Fink
    Joined: Jun 11, 2007
    Posts: 13,401

    Von Rigg Fink
    Member
    from Garage

    nice tool.
    thanks for the idea
     
  5. brokenspoke
    Joined: Jul 26, 2005
    Posts: 2,990

    brokenspoke
    Member

    Great idea..thanks
     
  6. Martin_F
    Joined: Mar 3, 2008
    Posts: 2,527

    Martin_F
    Member

    Great, thanks!
    I'll be doing this here in a little bit...
     

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